The Thanet Trust Association

Join The Register of Beneficiaries

A community reconnecting with a 383-year-old charitable trust.
About The Henry Robinson Bequest: 1642–2026

On 13 May 1642, Henry Robinson signed his will bequeathing land in Birchington and St Nicholas with a specific purpose: to fund scholarships and fellowships for those born in Thanet and Kent. He appointed St John's College, Cambridge as trustee to oversee this legacy.

That was over 383 years ago.
What We Have Found (based on public records and FOI responses)

  • No documentation has been identified to date evidencing the award of scholarships or fellowships under the 1642 will

  • No documentation has been identified to date showing that the trust was formally varied or brought to an end
Why This Matters Now

  • In December 2025, outline planning permission was granted for up to 1,600 homes on land associated with the trust.

  • Legal proceedings are now ongoing in the High Court concerning aspects of that decision.  
Our Mission

The Thanet Trust Association brings together individuals connected to the intended beneficiaries of Henry Robinson’s 1642 will.
 
It seeks to promote transparency regarding the administration of the trust, understanding of its historical purpose, and informed discussion of matters affecting the land today.
Why Join the Register?

The 1642 Henry Robinson Bequest was specifically established to provide educational opportunities — scholarships and fellowships — for those born in Thanet and Kent.

We are asking for your connection to the area and your background to:

  • Identify beneficiaries: Establish a clear and formal record of the community the trust was intended to serve.

  • Demonstrate community voice: Show that there is genuine and widespread community interest in the proper administration of the trust.

  • Support wider understanding: Help demonstrate the breadth and nature of the community connected to the trust, including in the context of ongoing legal and regulatory matters.  
  
Completing this form takes less than 2 minutes.  
  Please complete as much as you feel comfortable sharing. 
  All fields are optional unless stated otherwise.  

If you know others with a connection to Thanet, please share this register with them.  
Data Protection
  
Your personal data is held securely by The Thanet Trust Association in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). It will be used to provide updates about the trust, to demonstrate community interest in matters relating to the trust, and to support the Association’s stated objectives.
 
Your data will not be shared with third parties except where required by law or with your consent. You may request removal from the register at any time by contacting us.

  🔒 Your information is kept private and used only for the purposes described above.